Mikey weaved through the crowded subway station, head down, shoulders tight. He hated rush hour; too many people, too much noise, and too many chances for trouble.
Someone bumped into him from the side. Small. Light. Mikey turned just as a little boy stumbled back and looked up at him, wide-eyed and nervous.
"Oh! I'm sorry, mister!"
Mikey blinked, then offered a soft smile. "Hey, it's okay. No harm done."
The boy's fear seemed to melt away as Mikey ruffled his hair gently.
"I'm Luca!" he said brightly.
Mikey crouched a bit. "Nice to meet you, Luca. Where are your parents?"
Luca's smile faltered. "I'm looking for them."
Mikey's stomach sank. "How long have you been looking?"
The boy shrugged, clearly not sure.
Mikey stood and scooped him up. "How old are you, bud?"
Luca proudly held up five fingers. "I'm five!"
Mikey smiled, but then he noticed something, bruises, on the boy's hands. His smile faded.
"What happened to your hands?" he asked gently.
Luca looked down, then held them out. "They're just love marks. Mommy and Daddy gave me those."
Mikey froze.
Love marks.
That was the same thing he used to say.
He shook his head, muttering to himself. "No. We're going to the police."
He tightened his grip on Luca and turned toward the nearest station.
"But... but if Aunt Maggie comes back and I'm not there, she'll be mad," Luca said, voice suddenly small.
Mikey looked down at him. "I know, kiddo. But you're not safe there. It's gonna be alright, okay?"
Luca didn't answer, but he didn't protest either. He just clung to Mikey's shirt.
When they walked into the station, the familiar face behind the front desk brought a wave of relief.
"Dani," Mikey called out.
She looked up, startled. "Mikey? What-who's the kid?"
"This is Luca," he said quickly, stepping closer. "You need to see his hands."
Dani stood up and held hers out. Luca hesitated, then placed his small palms on hers. Her expression shifted in an instant: shock, concern, anger.
"Hey, Luca," she said gently. "I'm Dani. Can you tell me who gave you those bruises?"
"Mommy and Daddy," he said like it was no big deal.
Dani's heart twisted. She crouched beside him. "How old are you, sweetie?"
"I'm five!" he said with a grin, still proud.
YOU ARE READING
That's What You Get
FanfictionMikey thought love was supposed to hurt. That if he just held on tightly enough, things would go back to how they used to be. But the longer he stayed, the harder it became to tell where devotion ended and survival began. Now, the silence between br...
